TW201626968A - Absorbent article, absorbent article manufacturing method, and absorbent article manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

In this absorbent article manufacturing method, a textile material (31) is supplied in a scattered state to a rotating drum (2), the outer peripheral surface of which has accumulation recesses (22) formed therein, and the textile material (31) is deposited via suction into the accumulation recesses (22), thus producing an absorbent article (3) having a predetermined shape. The supply amount of the textile material (31) per unit time is periodically altered in accordance with the rotary movement cycle of the accumulation recesses (22), and as a result, obtained is the absorbent article (3) having portions where the basis weight of the textile material (31) is relatively high and other portions where such weight is relatively low.

Description

Absorber, method of manufacturing absorbent body, and apparatus for manufacturing absorbent body

The present invention relates to an absorbent body, a method for producing the absorbent body, and a device for producing the absorbent body.

As a manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent body of an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper, a menstrual sanitary napkin, or an incontinence pad, there is known a manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent body including a rotating drum having a concave portion for collecting on the outer peripheral surface, and When the rotating drum rotates, the outer peripheral surface is supplied with an absorbent material such as pulp in a scattered state, and the absorbent body material is suctioned by suction from the bottom surface of the collecting concave portion including the porous member in which the plurality of suction holes are formed. The deposit is deposited in the recess for collecting, and the deposit formed into a specific shape is released from the recess for collecting to obtain an absorber. The absorbent system is used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article, either directly or after being coated with a coated sheet such as paper or air permeable nonwoven fabric.

Further, as a manufacturing apparatus of such an absorbent body, there has been proposed a device in which a first suction region having a high opening area ratio and an opening area ratio are lower than a first suction region in a bottom surface of the concave portion for accumulation. In the second suction region, an absorber having a portion where the absorption capacity is designed to be locally high is produced (see Patent Document 1).

[Previous Technical Literature] [Patent Literature]

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-65930

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an absorbent body which is formed with a set of outer peripheral surfaces The drum for collecting the concave portion is supplied to the fibrous material in a scattered state, and the fibrous material is accumulated in the collecting concave portion by suction to obtain a specific shape of the absorbent body, and the supply amount per unit time of the fibrous material is changed. An absorber having a portion in which the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively high and the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively low is obtained.

Further, the present invention provides an absorbent body of a novel constitution which can be produced by the production method or manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent body of the present invention. That is, the present invention provides an absorbent body comprising a fibrous material and a water-absorbing polymer, and satisfying the following conditions A to C.

Condition A: The basis weight of the above fibrous material and the basis weight of the above water-absorbing polymer are respectively changed in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body. Condition B: The portion of the fibrous material having the highest basis weight in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body is the same as the portion having the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer. Condition C: The basis weight ratio of the portion having the highest basis weight and the portion having the lowest basis weight, that is, the uneven distribution magnification is different from the above-mentioned fibrous material and the above water-absorbent polymer.

Moreover, the present invention provides a manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent body, comprising: a rotating drum having a plurality of concave portions for collecting at a predetermined interval on an outer circumferential surface; and a duct that is supplied as an absorbent body in a scattering state toward an outer peripheral surface of the rotating cylinder a fiber material of a material; a fiber material supply unit that supplies a fiber material to the pipe; and a mold release device that deposits a deposit of the fiber material in the accumulation recess, and releases the deposit as an absorber from the accumulation recess. The apparatus for producing an absorbent body according to the present invention is produced by varying the amount of supply of the fibrous material to the pipe per unit time, and is manufactured in each absorbent body having a relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material and a basis weight of the fibrous material. A relatively low portion of the absorber. Further, the apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the present invention includes a supply amount control unit that measures an uneven distribution state of the fibrous material in the absorbent body or the deposit, and based on the measured uneven distribution state The amount of supply of the fiber material to the pipe by the fiber material supply portion changes.

1‧‧‧Manufacturer of absorbent body

1A‧‧‧Manufacturing device for absorbent body

2‧‧‧ reel

2f‧‧‧ outer perimeter

3‧‧‧ absorber

Section 3A‧‧‧

Section 3B‧‧‧

Section 3C‧‧‧

3D‧‧‧ Section

Section 3E‧‧‧

Section 3F‧‧‧

3a‧‧‧End

3b‧‧‧The other end

3X‧‧‧ length direction

3Y‧‧‧Width direction

4‧‧‧ Pipes

4e‧‧‧ openings

4f, 4r‧‧‧ both ends

5‧‧‧Fiber Material Supply Department

6‧‧‧Blowing device for demoulding

7‧‧‧Vacuum conveyor

7A‧‧‧belt conveyor

8‧‧‧Supply Quantity Control Department

8A‧‧‧Supply Quantity Control Department

9‧‧‧cutting device

20‧‧‧tube body

20p‧‧‧ divider

21‧‧‧ peripheral components

22‧‧‧Concave recess

22L‧‧‧ contour

22b‧‧‧Concave recess

24‧‧‧Press belt

25‧‧‧roll

26‧‧‧ Roll

27‧‧‧Porous plate

27a‧‧‧Outer surface

28‧‧‧pattern forming board

28a‧‧‧Outer surface

28b‧‧‧ inner surface

30‧‧‧Acceptor

30A‧‧‧Absorber continuum

31‧‧‧Fiber material

31A‧‧‧Material sheet

32‧‧‧Water-absorbing polymer

33‧‧‧High base

34‧‧‧Low basis weight

35‧‧‧ Covered sheets

36‧‧‧covered sheets

38‧‧‧Intermediate basis

51‧‧‧Crusher

52‧‧‧Supply roller

53‧‧‧Drive motor

55‧‧‧Distribution tube

73‧‧‧Aerial belt

74‧‧‧vacuum box

82‧‧‧ Surface Displacement Measuring Machine

83‧‧‧Rotary encoder

91‧‧‧Cutter Roll

92‧‧‧cutting knife

93‧‧‧Anvil Roll

222‧‧‧Center shaft

280‧‧‧ Space Department

A‧‧‧ space

B‧‧‧ Space

C‧‧‧ Space

C‧‧‧ Straight line

Ce‧‧‧ Straight line

D‧‧‧ Space

P1‧‧‧ specific location

P2‧‧‧ specific location

R‧‧‧Rotation direction

T‧‧‧ length

X‧‧‧Transfer direction

F‧‧‧ front end

R‧‧‧ backend

Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body which is preferably used in the embodiment of the method for producing an absorbent body of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a collecting recess in the manufacturing apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3(a) is a graph showing a change in the supply amount of the fiber material in the preferred embodiment, and Fig. 3(b) is a view showing a change in the amount of the fiber material reaching the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder in the preferred embodiment. Fig. 3(c) is an explanatory view showing the length of the cylinder in the circumferential direction of the pipe opening portion and the like.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the absorbent body obtained by the present invention.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory view showing a method of measuring the basis weight of the portion where the basis weight of the fiber material is the lowest and the basis weight of the fiber material is the highest.

6(a) to 6(c) are side views showing pipes of another shape used in the examples and comparative examples.

Fig. 7 is a graph showing the uneven distribution state of the fiber materials of the respective absorbent bodies produced in Examples 2 to 5.

Fig. 8 is a graph showing the frequency per 5% of the basis weight change rate of the fiber materials of the respective absorbent bodies produced in Examples 2 to 5.

Fig. 9 is a graph showing the uneven distribution state of each of the fiber material and the water-absorptive polymer of each of the absorbent bodies produced in Examples 6 and 7.

Fig. 10 is a graph showing the frequency of the basis weight change rate of the fiber material and the water-absorptive polymer of each of the absorbent bodies produced in Examples 6 and 7.

Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing an embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body of the present invention.

Fig. 12 (a) is a graph showing a change in the supply amount of the fiber material in the preferred embodiment, and Fig. 12 (b) is a graph showing the period of the recess for collecting corresponding to Fig. 12 (a), Fig. 12 ( c) is an explanatory diagram of the length of the cylinder circumferential direction of the pipe opening portion and the like.

Figs. 13(a) to 13(c) are graphs for discriminating the displacement of the height position of the upper surface of the absorber indicating the appropriate distribution of the unevenness of the fiber material.

Figure 14 is a diagram showing the phase of the supply amount according to the mode of the uneven distribution state of the absorber Fig. 12(a) corresponds to an example of a bit change.

Fig. 15 (a) and Fig. 15 (b) are side views showing other examples of the absorbent body obtained by the present invention.

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body described in Patent Document 1 can partially adjust the deposition amount of the absorbent material in the concave portion for collection, and can manufacture an absorbent body having a different basis weight of the absorbent body material, but in a region where the basis weight is changed. When the area ratio is equal to the specification, it is necessary to reform the recess for the accumulation itself, and it requires a lot of labor.

The present invention is directed to providing a method and apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body that solves the problems of the prior art. Further, the present invention relates to an absorbent body which provides a novel configuration.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on preferred embodiments.

First, a manufacturing apparatus of an absorbent body which is preferably used in an embodiment of a method for producing an absorbent body of the present invention, and an apparatus for producing an absorbent body which is an embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent body of the present invention will be described.

The apparatus 1 for manufacturing an absorbent body shown in Fig. 1 is preferably used for manufacturing an absorbent body according to an embodiment of the method for producing an absorbent body of the present invention, and the apparatus 1A for manufacturing an absorbent body shown in Fig. 11 is used as the present invention. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to an embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus for producing an absorbent body.

As shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus 1 for manufacturing an absorbent body (hereinafter also referred to as "manufacturing apparatus 1") shown in Fig. 1 includes a rotating drum 2 having a plurality of collecting recesses 22 formed at predetermined intervals on the outer peripheral surface; The duct 4, which faces the outer peripheral surface 2f of the drum 2, supplies the fibrous material 31 as the absorbent material and the water-absorbent polymer 32 in a scattered state; the fibrous material supply portion 5 supplies the fibrous material 31 to the inside of the duct 4; The air blower 6 is used to deposit the deposit of the fibrous material 31 and the water-absorbent polymer 32 in the collecting recess 22 as the absorbent body 3 from the collecting recess 22; and the vacuum conveyor as a conveying device 7, the system is arranged in the drum 2 Below.

As shown in Fig. 11, the manufacturing apparatus 1A (hereinafter also referred to as "manufacturing apparatus 1A") of the absorbent body shown in Fig. 11 includes a rotating drum 2 having a plurality of collecting recesses 22 formed at a predetermined interval on the outer peripheral surface; The duct 4, which faces the outer peripheral surface 2f of the drum 2, supplies the fiber material 31 as an absorbent material in a scattered state; and the fiber material supply portion 5 which supplies the fiber material 31 to the inside of the duct 4; The blower device 6 is configured such that the deposit formed by depositing the fibrous material 31 and the water-absorbent polymer 32 in the collecting recess 22 is released from the collecting recess 22 as the absorber 3, and further includes: as a conveying device The vacuum conveyor 7 is disposed below the drum 2, and the supply amount control unit 8A controls the amount of the fiber material 31 supplied from the fiber material supply unit 5 to the inside of the duct 4.

The drum 2 of the manufacturing apparatuses 1 and 1A includes a cylindrical tubular body 20 including a metal rigid body, and an outer peripheral member 21 which is disposed to overlap the outer peripheral portion of the tubular body 20 to form a drum 2 Outside the perimeter 2f. The outer peripheral member 21 receives power from a prime mover (not shown) such as a motor, and rotates in the direction of the arrow R about the horizontal axis. On the other hand, the barrel body 20 is fixed and does not rotate.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral member 21 has a porous plate 27 (porous member) at its outer peripheral portion, and a pattern forming plate 28 that is superposed and fixed to the outer surface 27a side of the porous plate 27. The bottom surface of the collecting recess 22 is formed of a porous plate 27.

The pattern forming plate 28 has an outer surface 28a that forms the outer peripheral surface 2f of the drum 2, and an inner surface 28b that faces the rotating shaft side of the drum 2, and has a concave portion 22 with the collecting surface between the outer surface 28a and the inner surface 28b. The space portion 280 of the shape corresponding to the three-dimensional shape inside. The outline 22L of the space portion 280 coincides with the outline of the accumulation recess 22. As the pattern forming plate 28, for example, a plate in which a metal or a resin plate such as stainless steel or aluminum is machined to form an opening (a space portion 280 having a shape corresponding to the three-dimensional shape in the collecting recess 22) can be used or used. The mold is integrally formed with a plate of the opening, a plate that is perforated, etched, or the like.

The porous plate 27 is a permeable plate that conveys the air flow generated by the suction from the side of the canister 20 to the outside of the drum 2 without passing the absorbent material that is carried by the air flow. Keep it, only let the air pass. In the porous plate 27, a plurality of suction holes (fine holes) penetrating the plate 27 in the thickness direction are formed in a uniform distribution throughout the plate 27, and the accumulation recess 22 passes through the drum 2 While being held in the space A of the negative pressure, the suction hole functions as a vent hole for the air flow. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the porous sheet 27 is fixed over the entire area, and the suction force control panel or the like which partially differs in suction force is not disposed on the lower side of the porous sheet 27. In other words, the collecting recess 22 in the manufacturing apparatus 1 is a uniform suction force generated on the entire bottom surface.

As the porous sheet 27, for example, a mesh plate made of metal or resin, or a plurality of fine pores formed by etching or perforating a metal or resin plate can be used.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 11, the cylinder main body 20 has a plurality of mutually independent spaces A, B, C, and D separated by a partition plate 20p provided on the outer peripheral surface 2f side from the central axis side of the rotating cylinder 2. . An intake fan (not shown) is connected to the central shaft portion 222 of the barrel body 20. In the manufacturing apparatus 1, the pressure of the spaces A to D in the partitions in the drum 2 can be adjusted by the driving of the suction fan. Further, in the manufacturing apparatus 1A, a baffle plate, a valve, and the like which can adjust the opening area are provided between the central shaft portion 222 and each space, and the rotating drum 2 can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the opening area of the baffle. The pressure of the space A~D separated by the inside.

In any of the manufacturing apparatuses 1 and 1A, the suction force in the region of the space A in the region where the outer peripheral surface 2f is covered by the duct 4 is stronger than the suction force in the region of the space B to D. Further, since the spaces C and D are the transfer positions including the absorber 3 in the accumulation recess 22 and the regions before and after them, it is preferable that the pressure is zero or a positive pressure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the duct 4 of the manufacturing apparatus 1, 1A extends from the fiber material supply unit 5 to the drum 2, and the opening on the downstream side of the duct 4 covers the space in the drum 2 which is maintained at a negative pressure. The outer peripheral surface 2f on A. The fiber material supply unit 5 includes a pulverizer 51 as a defibrating machine, and is configured as follows: a raw material sheet 31A of a fibrous material such as a wood pulp sheet The pulverizer 51 is introduced into the pulverizer 51 by the raw material supply roller 52, and the fiber material 31 generated by defibration of the pulverizer 51 is supplied into the duct 4.

Between the drum 2 in the duct 4 and the fiber material supply portion 5, a scattering pipe 55 for supplying the water-absorbent polymer 32 as another absorbent material to the duct 4 is provided. By the operation of the suction fan (not shown) of the drum 2, the absorbent body material (fiber material 31 and water absorbing polymer 32) is generated in the space inside the duct 4 toward the outer peripheral surface 2f of the drum 2. The flow of air.

The pressing belt 24 of the manufacturing apparatus 1 and 1A of the absorbent body is an annular air-permeable or non-ventilating belt, and is stretched over the roller 25, the roller 26, and other rollers (not shown), and rotates together with the rotation of the drum 2. In the case where the belt 24 is a belt having a gas permeability, it is preferable that the absorbent material (the fiber material 31 and the water-absorptive polymer 32) in the collecting recess 22 is not passed. By pressing the belt 24, even if the pressure in the space B is set to atmospheric pressure, the deposit in the collecting recess 22 can be held in the collecting recess 22 before being transferred to the vacuum conveyor 7.

The vacuum conveyor 7 (transporting device) of the manufacturing apparatuses 1 and 1A is disposed below the drum 2, and is close to the outer peripheral surface 2f of the space 2 of the drum 2 which is set to a weak positive pressure or a pressure of zero (atmospheric pressure). Configuration. The vacuum conveyor 7 includes an annular ventilating belt 73 and a vacuum box 74 disposed at a position opposed to the outer peripheral surface 2f of the drum 2 with the ventilating belt 73 interposed therebetween. The air-permeable cover sheet 35 including a sheet of paper (tissue paper) or a nonwoven fabric is introduced onto the vacuum conveyor 7. The air permeable covering sheet 35 is also a liquid permeable covering sheet.

The blower device 6 for mold release of the manufacturing apparatuses 1 and 1A functions as a mold release device, and deposits the absorbent material (the fiber material 31 and the water-absorbent polymer 32) in the stacking recess 22 from the stack. The collecting recess 22 is demolded. The blower device 6 for demolding is disposed inside the outer peripheral member 21 in the space C, and the inner surface side of the porous member such as the porous plate on which the bottom surface of the collecting recess 22 for depositing the absorbent material is formed is oriented toward the outer surface. The 27a side is blown with air, and the air is used to promote the release of the deposit from the collecting recess 22 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a supply amount control unit 8 that controls the amount of the fiber material 31 supplied from the fiber material supply unit 5 to the inside of the duct 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the manufacturing apparatus 1A includes a supply amount control unit 8A that controls the amount of the fiber material 31 supplied from the fiber material supply unit 5 to the inside of the duct 4. The details of the supply amount control units 8 and 8A are not shown, and include a computer having a display unit, an interface for electrically connecting the computer to another device, and a specific program to be mounted on the computer.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 1A includes a surface displacement measuring device 82, and a signal from the surface displacement measuring device 82 is input to the computer of the supply amount control unit 8A, and the height position of the upper surface of the absorber 3 is carried along the conveying device 7A. The change of the flow direction X of the absorber 3 is recorded in a memory device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a RAM (Random Access Memory) or an SSD (Solid State Disk). And displayed on the display unit.

Further, the computer of the supply amount control units 8 and 8A controls the rotation of the drive motor 53 by outputting a control signal to the drive motor 53, and can control the supply amount of the raw material sheet 31A to the pulverizer 51, thereby controlling the fiber material 31 direction. The amount of supply in the pipe 4. Instead of a computer, you can use a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

The drive motor 53 causes the raw material sheet 31A of the fibrous material 31 to be sent to one of the pulverizers 51 to rotationally drive the supply rollers 52 and 52. By increasing the number of revolutions of the drive motor 53, the supply amount of the raw material sheet 31A to the pulverizer 51 is increased, so that the supply amount of the fiber material such as pulp fibers to the pipe 4 per unit time is increased. On the other hand, by reducing the number of revolutions of the drive motor 53, the supply amount of the raw material sheet 31A to the pulverizer 51 is reduced, and the amount of supply of the fiber material such as pulp fibers to the pipe 4 per unit time is reduced.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 1 and 1A of the absorbent body include a mechanism for obtaining the absorbent body continuous body 30A by covering the upper surface of the upper surface of the absorbent body 3 which is released from the collecting concave portion 22 by the covering sheets 35 and 36. The covering sheet 36 of the covering absorbent body 3 on the side opposite to the side of the covering sheet 35 supplied to the vacuum conveyor 7 may be in the central portion in the width direction of one side of the covering sheet 35. The both sides of the covering sheet 35 which is folded over to the other surface side after the absorber 3 is placed may be the covering sheet 36 which is separated from the covering sheet 35 supplied to the vacuum conveyor 7. As the covering sheet 36, a sheet of paper (thin paper) or a non-woven fabric can be used similarly to the covering sheet 35, and it is preferable to have air permeability. The air-permeable covering sheet 36 is also a liquid-permeable covering sheet.

Further, the manufacturing apparatus 1 and 1A of the absorbent body include a cutting device 9 that cuts the length of the absorbent body continuous body 30A into the length of each absorbent article (hereinafter also referred to as the length of one absorbent article) The absorber 30. As the cutting device 9, various known cutting devices for the manufacture of an absorbent article or an absorbent body can be used. For example, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11, the following can be used: including cutting with a cutting blade 92 The knife roll 91 and the anvil roll 93 that receives the blade sequentially cut the absorber continuous body 30A at a fixed cycle by the rotation of the two rolls.

A method of continuously manufacturing the absorbent body 3 using the above-described absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 1, that is, an embodiment of the production method of the absorbent body of the present invention will be described. Hereinafter, this embodiment will be referred to as a first embodiment.

In order to manufacture the absorber 3 using the above-described manufacturing apparatus 1, the drum 2 is rotated, and the air suction fan is operated to set the space A to a negative pressure. Moreover, the blower device 6 for evacuation, the vacuum conveyor 7, the belt conveyor 7A disposed adjacent to the vacuum conveyor 7, and the cutting device 9 are operated.

By the action of the suction fan, the bottom surface of the collecting recess 22 on the space A generates a uniform suction force over the entire area of the bottom surface, and flows into the outer peripheral surface of the drum 2 in the duct 4. The flow of air.

Then, the supply roller 52 of the fiber material supply unit 5 is operated, and when the raw material sheet 31A of the fiber material 31 is introduced into the pulverizer 51, the fiber material 31 generated by defibration of the pulverizer 51 is supplied into the duct 4. . The fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4 is in a scattered state, and is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 2 by the air flow flowing in the duct 4.

In the first embodiment, the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material supplied to the drum 2 in a scattering state is periodically changed. In detail, the fiber supplied to the pipe 4 is made The supply amount per unit time of the dimensional material 31 periodically changes. More specifically, the rotation speed of the raw material supply supply roller 52 is periodically changed by the computer included in the supply amount control unit 8, and the raw material sheet 31A of the fiber material is supplied to the pulverization machine as a defibration machine. The speed of the machine 51 is periodically changed, whereby the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4 is periodically changed. In the computer of the supply amount control unit 8, a program for generating such a change is installed in advance. The rotational speed of the supply roller 52 can also be periodically changed using a programmable computer.

In the first embodiment, the mass of the fiber material 31 supplied to the duct 4 by the supply amount control unit 8 is periodically changed in the mode shown in FIG. 3(a), thereby causing the reach of the drum 2 The mass of the outer peripheral fibrous material 31 periodically changes in the pattern shown in Fig. 3(b).

The fiber material 31 is obtained by defibrating the raw material sheet 31A by the pulverizer 51. However, when the pulp sheet is used as the raw material sheet 31A, it is difficult to defibrate the pulp sheet until the pulp fibers are separated from each other. The form of the fibrous material 31 is a form in which the pulp fibers are entangled with each other in a rough state. Therefore, the fibrous material 31 has a smaller apparent density than the particulate water-absorbent polymer 32, and is easily affected by the air flow. As a result, the waveforms and amplitudes of FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b) do not match each other, and the amount of change in the fiber material reaching the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder becomes small with respect to the amount of change in the fiber material supplied to the duct 4. That is, the reason for the difference between Fig. 3(a) and Fig. 3(b) is that when the fibrous material 31 passes through the inside of the duct 4, the distribution of the fibrous material is made uniform by the diffusion effect generated by the air flow. It is difficult to accurately predict the diffusion effect. In the case of complete homogenization, the manufactured absorber cannot obtain the distribution of the target fiber material. In order to maintain the state of Fig. 3(b), an absorbent body in which the fibrous material is unevenly distributed is produced, and it is preferable to sufficiently increase the amount of change in the fiber material supplied to the pipe 4, thereby reducing the diffusion effect in the pipe 4.

The mode shown in Fig. 3(a) is a mode in which the step of supplying a relatively small amount of the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 and the step of supplying a relatively large amount of the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 are alternately repeated, and the supply amount is continuously supplied and supplied continuously. Fiber material 31. Can also replace this to alternately reverse The fiber material 31 is supplied to the pipe 4 in a mode in which the step of supplying the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 and the step of supplying the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 are performed.

The supply rollers 52 in the manufacturing apparatuses 1 and 1A are linked by, for example, a gear or the like, and are rotated in the opposite directions at the same peripheral speed by one drive motor 53. As the drive motor 53, it is preferable to use a servo motor. Between the drive motor 53 and the supply amount control units 8 and 8A, a known device such as an input/output interface or a servo amplifier is disposed in accordance with the type of the rotation control signal output from the supply amount control units 8 and 8A, the type of the motor, and the like.

When the supply amount of the raw material sheet 31A to the pulverizer 51 is changed in the mode shown in FIG. 3(a), in order to ensure the responsiveness of the supply roller 52, the drive motor 53 and the gear for coupling are preferably used. The gear ratio is a performance and setting with excellent responsiveness.

The vertical axis in the graph of Fig. 3(a) is the supply amount (mass a) per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied to the pipe 4, and the vertical axis in the graph of Fig. 3(b) is the outer surface of the cylinder 2 The amount of fiber material 31 (mass b). Further, the length T shown in Figs. 3(a) and 3(b) is the interval between the collecting recesses 22 in the portion covered by the duct 4 with the rotation of the drum 2, and the recess 22 for collecting is also shown. The length of one cycle of the rotation movement period. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3(c), the specific position P1 corresponding to one of the accumulation recesses 22a, for example, the front end of the rotation direction R passes through the specific position P2 of the duct 4 in the circumferential direction of the drum 2 The time at which the specific position P1 common to the next accumulation recess 22b passes through the specific position P2.

In the first embodiment, the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4 is periodically changed in accordance with the rotational movement period of the accumulation recess 22 .

In the first embodiment, the amount of the fibrous material 31 deposited on the accumulation recess 22 can be accumulated by periodically changing the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4. The portion where the amount of the fibrous material 31 is relatively large is small, and the absorbent body 3 obtained by demolding the self-concentrating recess 22 is formed so that the relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material is opposite to the basis weight of the fibrous material. The lower part.

Further, in the first embodiment, even when the production speed of the absorber 3 changes, The same absorbent body 3 can be obtained by appropriately adjusting the period and the supply amount of the fiber material 31 supplied into the pipe 4.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the absorbent body 3 produced by the method of the first embodiment.

In the absorber 3 shown in FIG. 4, a high basis weight portion 33 having a relatively high basis weight of the fiber material is formed on the side of the end 3a corresponding to the front end f of the concave portion 22 in the rotation direction, and the concave portion for accumulation is formed. The other end 3b side corresponding to the rear end of the rotation direction of 22 is formed with a low basis weight portion 34 having a relatively low basis weight of the fibrous material. The absorber 3 has a longitudinal direction 3X corresponding to the circumferential direction of the drum 2 and a width direction 3Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. When the absorber 3 is conveyed by the vacuum conveyor 7 or the belt conveyor 7A as a conveying means, as shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction 3X has the one end 3a side of the high basis weight part 33 along the conveyance direction X. It faces the downstream side of the conveying direction.

As shown in Fig. 1, the absorbent body 3 obtained in this manner is covered with the covering sheets 35 and 36 to form the absorbent body continuous body 30A, and then cut into a specific length by the cutting device 9, as a coated sheet. The absorbent body 30 coated with the material is assembled into an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper.

The absorbent body 3 or the absorbent body 30 including the absorbent body 3 in the core portion is preferably used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article. Absorbent articles are mainly used to absorb body fluids that are excreted by the body such as urine or menstrual blood. The absorbent article includes, for example, disposable diapers, menstrual sanitary napkins, incontinence pads, sanitary pads, and the like, but is not limited thereto, and widely includes articles for absorbing liquid discharged from a human body.

Further, in the absorbent body 3 or the absorbent body 30 in which the core portion comprises the absorbent body 3, the absorbent body 3 comprises a relatively high basis weight portion 33 and a relatively low basis weight low basis weight portion 34, the absorbent body material The amount of accumulation is partially different. Therefore, in order to maximize the performance of the absorbent body, it is particularly preferable that the absorbent body for the disposable diaper has the high basis weight portion 33 as the ventral side (front side) and the low basis weight portion 34 as the back side. The (back side) is assembled into an absorbent article.

In addition, for example, it is easy to ensure a high absorption capacity from a necessary portion, and on the other hand, a fiber material is contained in the absorber 3 from the viewpoint of reducing the absorption capacity of a portion having a low necessity and reducing the amount of use of the raw material as a whole. High basis weights and low basis weights having different basis weights are also preferred. Further, the absorbent body 3 may be used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article without being covered with the covering sheets 35 and 36.

In any of the production method and the production method of the present invention, the length of the circumferential direction of the tube opening portion is determined from the viewpoint of the change in the supply amount of the fiber material 31 and the basis weight difference of the fiber material in the absorbent body 3. The length of the cylinder circumferential direction with respect to the collecting recess 22 is preferably 2.0 or less, and more preferably 1.5 or less. Further, from the viewpoint of the relationship between the deposition speed of the fiber material and the air transport speed of the material in the pipe 4, the above comparison is preferably more than 0, more preferably 0.1 or more.

As shown in Fig. 3 (c) and Fig. 12 (c), the length of the pipe opening portion in the circumferential direction is between the ends 4f and 4r of the opening portion 4e of the pipe 4 on the drum side in the circumferential direction of the drum. The length is measured along the outer circumference of the drum. The length of the cylindrical recess of the collecting recess 22 is the length between the both ends f and r of the collecting recess 22 in the circumferential direction of the drum, and is measured along the outer peripheral surface of the drum.

Further, in order to change the amount of supply of the fiber material 31 into the pipe 4, an absorbent body having an uneven distribution of the fiber material is produced, and it is preferable that a portion having a higher concentration of the fiber material and a portion having a lower concentration are wavyly arrived. The outer circumference of the drum 2 is outside. Further, it is preferable that a portion of the fibrous material having a relatively high basis weight (high basis weight portion) and a portion of the fibrous material having a relatively low basis weight (low basis weight portion) are formed in a wave shape on the outer circumference of the drum 2 surface.

Further, in the absorbent body produced by the present invention, the basis weight of the portion of the fiber material having the highest basis weight relative to the basis weight of the fiber material is preferably 1.5 or more, more preferably 2 or more. Good for 30 or less. Further, from the viewpoint of the strength of the absorbent body, the basis weight of the portion where the basis weight of the fibrous material is the lowest is preferably 100 g/m ² or more and 3,000 g/m ² or less.

The content (mass) of the fibrous material contained in each absorbent body is determined according to the use of the absorbent article, and the basis weight of the fibrous material contained in each absorbent body, the basis weight of the lowest weight portion of the fibrous material, and a preferred base. The weight ratio determines the basis weight of the portion of the fiber material that has the highest basis weight.

The basis weight of the portion where the basis weight of the fiber material and the basis weight of the fiber material are the lowest is determined in the following manner. That is, as shown in Fig. 5, a straight line C in the width direction 3Y is drawn at intervals of 30 mm from one end 3a in the longitudinal direction 3X of the absorber 3, and the absorber 3 is divided into a plurality of portions 3A with the straight line C as a boundary. ~3F, the area of each of the divided portions and the quality of the fiber material contained therein are obtained. Then, based on the determined mass and area, the basis weight is calculated, and the basis weight of the segmented portion having the highest basis weight is determined as the basis weight of the portion of the fiber material having the highest basis weight, and the calculated basis weight is the lowest. The basis weight of the divided portion is set to the basis weight of the portion where the basis weight of the fiber material is the lowest. Further, as shown by the broken line in Fig. 5, when the absorber 3 has a portion 3G which has a length of less than 30 mm from the last straight line Ce, it is not divided by the straight line Ce, and the portion 3G is set. For a part of the former part 3F, the basis weight of the part 3F is calculated. When one end 3a of the absorbent body 3 in the longitudinal direction 3X is in the absorbent body of the absorbent article, it is set to be close to one end of the front side (front side) of the wearer's front and rear directions. When the relationship with the wearer is not known, it is one end corresponding to the front end f in the rotation direction of the collecting concave portion 22, and when it is not known, any one of the ends in the longitudinal direction is referred to as the one end 3a.

In any of the production method and the production method of the present invention, it is preferable that the water-absorbing polymer 32 is continuously supplied to the pipe 4 in addition to the fiber material 31. The water-absorptive polymer 32 is supplied from the above-described distribution tube 55, for example, and is supplied to the air stream of the conveyance fiber material 31.

Even if the water-absorbent polymer 32 is continuously supplied at a fixed supply amount, the portion of the air stream in which the fiber material 31 is conveyed has a higher concentration of the fiber material, and the water-absorbent polymer 32 is contained in a relatively larger amount than the portion having a lower concentration. The reason is that the concentration of the fiber material is higher. In this case, the fibrous material 31 functions as a transport medium for the water-absorbent polymer 32. Therefore, as the absorbent body 3, a portion having a relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material is obtained, and an absorbent body having more water-absorbent polymer than the portion having a relatively lower basis weight of the fibrous material.

As described above, according to the method of the present embodiment, even if the device for changing the amount of supply is not provided in the supply device of the water-absorbent polymer 32, an absorber in which the water-absorbent polymer is unevenly distributed can be obtained.

Further, according to the method of the first embodiment, even if the device for changing the amount of supply is not provided in the supply device of the water-absorbent polymer 32, an absorbent body in which the water-absorbent polymer is unevenly distributed can be obtained, and the fiber material is water-absorbent. The phase of the uneven distribution of the polymers is uniform.

Further, since the basis weight change of the water-absorptive polymer depends on the change in the amount of the fibrous material as shown in Fig. 3(b), an absorbent body in which the basis weight of the fibrous material and the water-absorbing polymer are continuously and gently changed can be obtained.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the water-absorbing polymer is supplied to obtain an absorber, the fiber material and the water-absorbing polymer are unevenly distributed, and the phase of the uneven distribution is uniform (refer to FIG. 9). ). Also, a basis weight distribution that changes continuously and gently can be obtained.

Therefore, when the absorbent article is used in a group, the wearing feeling is not uncomfortable even when the amount of absorption is large. Further, when the water-absorbent polymer is not supplied, an absorbent article having no feeling of discomfort can be obtained in the same manner.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method for producing an absorbent body of the present invention, an absorbent body comprising a fibrous material and a water-absorbing polymer, and a basis weight of the fibrous material and a base of the water-absorbent polymer can be obtained. The weight is changed in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, and the portion of the fibrous material having the highest basis weight in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body is the same as the highest weight portion of the water-absorbing polymer, and the highest weight portion is The basis weight ratio of the portion having the lowest basis weight, that is, the uneven distribution magnification, is different from the above-mentioned fibrous material and the above water-absorbent polymer. In the absorbent body, it is preferred that the uneven distribution ratio of the fibrous material is higher than that of the absorbent The uneven distribution ratio of the polymer.

The uneven distribution ratio of the fibrous material is the ratio of the basis weight of the fibrous material to the basis weight of the fibrous material which is the lowest of the basis weight of the fibrous material, and the unevenness of the water-absorbing polymer The distribution ratio is the ratio of the basis weight of the water-absorbent polymer having the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer to the basis weight of the water-absorbent polymer having the lowest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer. The ratio of the uneven distribution ratio of the fibrous material to the uneven distribution ratio of the water-absorbing polymer is preferably 1.05 or more, more preferably 1.1 or more, still more preferably 10 or less, still more preferably 5 or less.

Next, a method of continuously manufacturing an absorbent body using the above-described absorbent body manufacturing apparatus 1A which is one embodiment of the production apparatus of the absorbent body of the present invention will be described. According to this method, the absorber 3 shown in Fig. 4 which is the same as the first embodiment described above can be obtained.

In order to manufacture the absorber 3 using the above-described manufacturing apparatus 1A, the drum 2 is rotated, and the air suction fan is operated to set the space A to a negative pressure. Moreover, the blower device 6 for evacuation, the vacuum conveyor 7, the belt conveyor 7A disposed adjacent to the vacuum conveyor 7, and the cutting device 9 are operated. By the action of the suction fan, the bottom surface of the collecting recess 22 on the space A generates a uniform suction force over the entire area of the bottom surface, and flows into the outer peripheral surface of the drum 2 in the duct 4. The flow of air. Then, when the supply rolls 52 and 52 of the fiber material supply unit 5 are operated to introduce the raw material sheet 31A of the fiber material 31 into the pulverizer 51, the fiber material 31 generated by defibration of the pulverizer 51 is supplied to the pipe. 4 inside. The fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4 is in a scattered state, and is supplied to the outer peripheral surface of the drum 2 by the air flow flowing in the duct 4.

In the manufacturing apparatus 1A, the supply amount control unit 8A periodically changes the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material supplied to the drum 2 in a scattering state. In detail, the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4 is periodically changed. More specifically, the rotation speed of the raw material supply supply rollers 52 and 52 is periodically changed by the computer included in the supply amount control unit 8A, whereby the raw material sheet 31A of the fibrous material is used. The speed of the pulverizer 51 supplied to the defibrating machine is periodically changed, whereby the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4 is periodically changed. A program for generating such a change is installed in advance in the computer of the supply amount control unit 8A. The rotational speed of the supply rolls 52, 52 can also be periodically varied using a programmable logic controller.

For example, the supply amount control unit 8A periodically changes the rotational speed of the raw material supply supply rollers 52 and 52 in the mode shown in Fig. 12(a), thereby causing the supply amount control unit 8A to pipe 4 The mass a of the supplied fibrous material 31 varies periodically in the same pattern.

The mode shown in Fig. 12(a) is a mode in which the step of supplying a relatively small amount of the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 and the step of supplying a relatively large amount of the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 are alternately repeated, and the supply amount is continuously supplied and supplied continuously. Fiber material 31. Instead of this, the fiber material 31 may be supplied to the pipe 4 in a pattern of alternately repeating the step of supplying the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4 and the step of supplying the fiber material 31 to the pipe 4.

The vertical axis in the graph of Fig. 12(a) is the rate at which the raw material sheet 31A of the fibrous material 31 is introduced into the pulverizer 51 by the supply rolls 52, 52, and the supply amount of the fibrous material 31 supplied to the pipe 4 per unit time. (Quality a) also changes in the same way. The graph of Fig. 12(b) shows the period of the collecting recess 22 by the portion covered by the duct 4, and as shown in Figs. 3(c) and 12(c), one cycle corresponds to, for example, the specific one of the collecting recesses 22a. The position P1, for example, the front end of the rotation direction R passes through the specific position P2 of the duct 4 after the specific position P2 in the circumferential direction of the drum 2 and to the common position P1 of the next accumulation recess 22b.

In the operation of the manufacturing apparatus 1A, as shown in FIGS. 12(a) and 12(b), the supply amount control unit 8A causes the speed of the raw material sheet 3A of the fiber material to be supplied to the pulverizer 51 to change. It coincides with the period in which the collecting recess 22 passes through the portion covered by the duct 4.

Then, the supply amount control unit 8A periodically changes the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material 31 supplied into the duct 4, whereby the deposit of the fibrous material 31 can be formed on the deposit deposited on the accumulation recess 22 Less parts and fibrous material 31 are more accumulated The portions of the respective absorbent bodies obtained by demolding the self-concentrating recesses 22 form a portion where the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively high and the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively low. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the absorbent body 3 manufactured by the apparatus 1 of the present embodiment.

In the absorber 3 shown in FIG. 4, a high basis weight portion 33 having a relatively high basis weight of the fiber material is formed on the side of the end 3a corresponding to the front end f of the concave portion 22 in the rotation direction, and the concave portion for accumulation is formed. The other end 3b side corresponding to the rear end r of the rotation direction 22 is formed with a low basis weight portion 34 having a relatively low basis weight of the fiber material. The absorber 3 has a longitudinal direction 3X corresponding to the circumferential direction of the drum 2 and a width direction 3Y orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. When the absorbent body 3 is conveyed by the vacuum conveyor 7 or the belt conveyor 7A as a conveying means, as shown in Fig. 11, the longitudinal direction 3X is along the conveying direction X, and has one end 3a side of the high basis weight portion 33. The downstream side of the transport direction.

As shown in Fig. 11, the absorbent body 3 obtained in this manner is covered with the covering sheets 35 and 36 to form the absorbent body continuous body 30A, and then cut into a specific length by the cutting device 9 as a coated sheet. The coated absorbent body 30 is placed in an absorbent article such as a disposable diaper.

The supply amount control unit 8A records the displacement of the height of the upper surface of the absorber 3 conveyed by the transport device by the signal input from the surface displacement measuring device 82. Fig. 13 (a) is a graph showing the displacement of the height position of the upper surface of the absorber 3 recorded in the memory portion of the supply amount control unit 8A. 0 to 360 of the horizontal axis of Fig. 13(a) are represented by one cycle of the cutting cycle of the cutter roll 91 or the time length 360 of one cycle of the accumulation recess, and each of the horizontal axes The zero point is the point at which the detection signal from the detector set at the reference position of the cutter roll or the reel is detected. Alternatively, the rotary encoder 83 may be attached to the shaft portion of the cutter roller 91 of the cutting device, and the length of the pulse corresponding to one rotation of the cutter roller 91 output from the rotary encoder 83 may be set to 0 on the horizontal axis. To the length of 360.

In the memory portion of the supply amount control unit 8A, a preferred range of the height position of the upper surface of the plurality of portions among the lengths of 0 to 360 of the horizontal axis is recorded in advance in accordance with the target absorber to be manufactured, by the absorber 3 Whether the values of the absorber are measured in real time during manufacture The values of the preferred ranges are satisfied, and it is possible to determine whether or not the manufactured absorbent body 3 has the form of the target absorbent body 3. As the surface displacement measuring instrument 82, a laser displacement meter or the like can be used.

Then, regardless of whether or not the absorbent body 3 to be manufactured is in the form shown in Fig. 13 (a), the shape of the absorbent body 3 determined by the input value from the surface displacement measuring device 82 is as shown in Fig. 13 (b). In the case of the form, as shown in Fig. 14, the phase of the supply amount is changed in accordance with the mode of the uneven distribution state of the absorber. The moving direction of the phase is set to a direction in which the uneven distribution state of the fiber material in the manufactured absorbent body is close to the uneven distribution state of the target absorbent body.

As described above, according to the manufacturing apparatus 1A of the present embodiment, only the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material is changed, and the desired portion of one of the absorbent bodies can be produced to absorb the uneven distribution of the absorbent material. Further, the surface displacement meter 82 or the like is used to monitor the uneven distribution state of the manufactured absorbent body 3, and based on the uneven distribution state, the supply amount of the fiber material supplied to the pipe by the fiber material supply portion is changed. Thereby, it is possible to stably continuously produce an absorbent body in which the uneven distribution of the fibrous material is in a desired state.

The absorbent body 3 or the absorbent body 30 including the absorbent body 3 in the core portion is preferably used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article. Further, in the absorbent body 3 manufactured by the manufacturing apparatus 1A or the absorbent body 30 in which the core portion includes the absorbent body 3, the absorbent body 3 also contains a relatively high basis weight of the high basis weight portion 33 and a relatively low basis weight. The weight 34 has a different amount of accumulation of the absorbent material. Further, the absorbent body 3 may be used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article without being covered with the covering sheets 35 and 36.

The absorbent body 3 to be produced may also be in the form shown in Fig. 13 (b) or Fig. 13 (c). Further, it may be in the form shown in Fig. 15 (a) or Fig. 15 (b).

The absorbent body shown in Fig. 13(b) has a high basis weight portion 33 having the highest basis weight of the fibrous material in the central portion in the longitudinal direction 3X corresponding to the circumferential direction of the drum 2, and a high basis weight in the longitudinal direction 3X. The portion 33 has a low basis weight portion 34 having the lowest basis weight of the fibrous material.

The absorber shown in Fig. 15(a) has a high basis weight portion 33 having the highest basis weight of the fiber material in the central portion in the longitudinal direction 3X corresponding to the circumferential direction of the drum 2, and one end in the longitudinal direction 3X. On the side, the low basis weight portion 34 having the lowest basis weight of the fibrous material has a fiber material having a basis weight less than the high basis weight portion 33 and more than the middle basis weight portion of the low basis weight portion 34 on the other end side in the longitudinal direction 3X. 38.

The absorber shown in Fig. 15 (b) is formed with a plurality of high basis weight portions 33 in a longitudinal direction 3X corresponding to the circumferential direction of the drum 2 so as to be spaced apart from each other. In the absorber shown in Fig. 15 (b), the three base portions other than the two high basis weight portions 33 are the lowest basis weight portion 34 having the lowest basis weight of the fiber material, but one of the three portions may be used. Or the two portions are set such that the basis weight of the fibrous material is less than the high basis weight portion 33 and higher than the intermediate basis weight portion 38 of the low basis weight portion 34.

In the case where the absorbent body produced by the production method or the production apparatus of the present invention or the absorbent body of the present invention is incorporated into an absorbent article, the absorbent article typically includes a front sheet, a back sheet, and an interposed sheet. A liquid-retaining absorbent between two sheets. The absorber may also be coated with one or a plurality of coated sheets on the upper and lower surfaces. The back sheet may or may not have water vapor permeability. The absorbent article may further comprise various members depending on the specific use of the absorbent article. Such components are well known to the industry. For example, when the absorbent article is applied to a disposable diaper or a menstrual sanitary napkin, one or two or more pairs of three-dimensional protection may be disposed on the outer side of both sides of the rising body of the absorbent body.

As the fibrous material and the water-absorptive polymer used in the present invention, various absorbents previously used for absorbent articles such as menstrual sanitary napkins, sanitary pads, disposable diapers, and the like can be used without particular limitation. For example, short fibers of cellulose fibers such as pulp fibers, ray fibers, and cotton fibers, or short fibers of synthetic fibers such as polyethylene are used. These fibers may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Further, the fiber material is preferably a whole or a part of pulp fibers, and preferably the ratio of the pulp fibers in the fiber material is 50 to 100% by mass, more preferably 80 to 100% by mass, still more preferably 100% by mass. Further, in the pipe, in addition to the fiber material, a deodorant or an antibacterial agent may be supplied as needed. Further, the water-absorbing polymer may or may not be supplied.

As the water-absorptive polymer, for example, sodium polyacrylate, (acrylic acid-ethylene) Alcohol) copolymer, sodium polyacrylate crosslinked body, (starch-acrylic acid) graft copolymer, (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymer and saponified product thereof, polyaspartic acid and the like. The fiber and the water-absorptive polymer may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The manufacturing method of the absorbent body, the absorbent body, and the manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent body of the present invention are not limited to the above embodiments, and can be appropriately changed.

For example, the amount of change in the amount of the fiber material 31 supplied to the duct 4 by the supply amount control unit 8 may be a mode different from the mode shown in FIG. 3(a), and the absorption shown in FIG. 4 may be produced. Absorbers of different parts of the body height base. Further, instead of changing the supply amount of the raw material sheet 31A to the pulverizer 51, the amount of supply of the fibrous material 31 to the duct 4 may be periodically changed by another method. For example, the amount of supply of the fiber material 31 to the duct 4 can be periodically changed by providing a shutter close to the pulverizer 51 to perform an opening and closing operation.

In the drum of the manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent body shown in Fig. 1, a plurality of concave portions for collecting the absorbent body forming one absorbent article are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotary drum, but are used for the absorption of the present invention. The drum of the manufacturing apparatus of the body or the manufacturing method of the absorbent body of the present invention may have a continuous concave portion in which the collecting recesses are continuous in the circumferential direction, and a continuous absorbent body in which the absorbent bodies of the plurality of absorbent articles are connected.

Further, it can also be combined with the method described in Patent Document 1. Further, a first suction region having a high opening area ratio and a second suction region having an opening area ratio lower than the first suction region may be provided on the bottom surface of the collecting recess 22, and the fibers may be formed in the two suction regions. Material accumulation.

Further, the fiber material may be supplied to the pipe, and the absorbent body not containing the water-absorbent polymer may be produced without supplying the water-absorbing polymer.

Further, in the manufacturing apparatus 1A of the above-described embodiment, the measurement of the uneven distribution state of the fiber material in the absorber is performed by using a surface displacement measuring device, and instead of using an image processing or a capacitance sensor.

The image processing can determine the basis weight of the fiber material, for example, based on the shade of the absorber in the image taken by the image pickup device. It is suitable for measuring cellulose fibers such as pulp fibers, rayon fibers, cotton fibers, or synthetic fibers such as polyethylene, which are used as materials for absorbent articles. In terms of dimensions, etc., an electrostatic capacitance sensor is preferred.

In the above embodiment, the present invention further discloses the following supplementary notes (manufacturing method of absorbent body, absorbent body, manufacturing apparatus of absorbent body, and the like).

<1>

A method for producing an absorbent body in which a fiber material is supplied in a scattering state in a drum in which a collecting concave portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface, and the fibrous material is deposited in the collecting concave portion by suction to obtain a specific shape of the absorbent body. And by periodically changing the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material in accordance with the rotational movement period of the concave portion for gathering, obtaining a portion having a relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material and a relatively low basis weight of the fibrous material Part of the absorber.

<2>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to the above aspect, wherein the accumulation concave portion generates a uniform suction force on the entire bottom surface.

<3>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to the above <1>, wherein the raw material sheet of the fibrous material is supplied to a defibrating machine to produce a fibrous material supplied to the rotating drum in a scattering state, and the raw material sheet is produced. The supply amount per unit time of the material is changed with respect to the defibrating machine, whereby the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material supplied to the drum in a scattering state is periodically changed.

<4>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the raw material sheet for supplying the fiber material to the defibrating machine is periodically changed by changing the rotation speed of the raw material supply supply roller. The velocity of the material changes periodically, and the amount of supply per unit time of the fiber material supplied into the pipe periodically changes.

<5>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above items <1> to <4> a mode in which the step of supplying a relatively small amount of the fiber material to the pipe and the step of supplying a relatively large amount of the fiber material to the pipe are alternately repeated, and the quality of the fiber material supplied to the pipe by the supply amount control portion is periodically changed, The fiber material is continuously supplied by changing the supply amount so that the mass of the fiber material reaching the outer peripheral surface of the drum periodically changes.

<6>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the step of alternately performing the step of supplying the fiber material to the pipe and the step of supplying the fiber material to the pipe are alternately repeated, The quality of the fibrous material reaching the outer peripheral surface of the drum is periodically changed.

<7>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein a servo motor is used as the drive motor of the supply roller.

<8>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the deposit amount of the fibrous material deposited on the accumulation recessed portion is smaller than the amount of the fibrous material deposited. A plurality of portions, and the absorber obtained by demolding the recess from the collecting portion forms a portion where the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively high and the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively low.

<9>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the base material having a relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material is formed on one end side corresponding to the front end in the rotation direction of the concave portion for collecting. The portion forms a low basis weight portion having a relatively low basis weight of the fibrous material on the other end side corresponding to the rear end in the rotation direction of the concave portion for gathering.

<10>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein, when the absorbent body is transported by a vacuum conveyor or a belt conveyor as a conveying device, the length is long. The degree direction is along the transport direction, and one end of the high basis weight portion faces the downstream side in the transport direction.

<11>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the absorbent body comprises a high basis weight portion having a relatively high basis weight and a low basis weight portion having a relatively low basis weight.

<12>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the length of the tubular opening of the pipe opening portion is preferably 2.0 or less with respect to the length of the cylindrical circumferential direction of the collecting recess, and more preferably 1.5 or less, more preferably, it is more than 0, and further preferably 0.1 or more.

<13>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum has a relatively high basis weight (high basis weight portion) of the fibrous material and the fibrous material. The relatively low basis weight (low basis weight) is formed in a wave shape.

<14>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein, in the absorbent body, a basis weight of a portion of the fibrous material having the highest basis weight relative to a basis weight of the fibrous material is the lowest The weight is preferably 1.5 or more, more preferably 2 or more, and still more preferably 30 or less.

<15>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein, in the absorbent body, the basis weight of the portion of the fibrous material having the highest basis weight is preferably 100 g/m ² or more. Preferably it is 3000 g/m ² or less.

<16>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the fibrous material is preferably a whole or a part of a pulp fiber, and the pulp fiber in the fibrous material The ratio of the dimension is preferably from 50 to 100% by mass, more preferably from 80 to 100% by mass, still more preferably from 100% by mass.

<17>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the water-absorbing polymer is supplied to the air stream for transporting the fibrous material to obtain an absorbent body having a water-absorptive polymer.

<18>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein, in the air flow for transporting the fibrous material, the amount of supply per unit time is fixed and the water-absorbing polymer is supplied. As the above-mentioned absorber, an absorber having a relatively high basis weight of the fiber material and a portion having a relatively low basis weight of the fiber material has a more water-absorbent polymer.

<19>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the water-absorbing polymer is selected from the group consisting of sodium polyacrylate, (acrylic acid-vinyl alcohol) copolymer, and sodium polyacrylate. One or a combination of two or more kinds of a (starch-acrylic acid) graft copolymer, an (isobutylene-maleic anhydride) copolymer, a saponified product thereof, and a polyaspartic acid.

<20>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the supply of the fiber material to the pipe is periodically performed by providing a baffle immediately after the pulverizer and performing an opening and closing operation. Variety.

<21>

In the method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, the first suction region and the opening area ratio having a higher opening area ratio are provided on the bottom surface of the accumulation concave portion. In the second suction region of the suction region, the fibrous material is deposited in the two suction regions.

<22>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the absorbent system is used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article, and the absorbent article is an article for absorbing liquid discharged from a human body.

<23>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the absorbent article is any one of a disposable diaper, a menstrual sanitary napkin, an incontinence pad, and a sanitary pad.

<24>

The method for producing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the absorbent body for the disposable diaper has a high basis weight portion as a front side (front side) and a low basis weight portion. The back side (rear side) is assembled into an absorbent article.

<25>

An absorbent body comprising a fibrous material and a water-absorbing polymer, wherein a basis weight of the fibrous material and a basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer are respectively changed in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, and in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, The portion of the fiber material having the highest basis weight is the same as the portion having the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer, and the basis weight ratio of the portion having the highest basis weight and the portion having the lowest basis weight, that is, the uneven distribution ratio is the above-mentioned fiber material and the above Different in water-absorbing polymers.

<26>

The absorbent according to the above <25>, wherein the uneven distribution ratio of the fibrous material is higher than the uneven distribution ratio of the water-absorbing polymer.

<27>

The absorbent body according to the above <25> or <26> wherein the basis weight of the fibrous material changes gently in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body.

<28>

An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body, comprising: a rotary drum having a plurality of concave portions for collecting at a predetermined interval on an outer circumferential surface; and a duct for supplying a fibrous material as an absorbent material in a scattered state toward an outer peripheral surface of the rotary cylinder; a fiber material supply unit that supplies a fiber material to the inside of the pipe; and a mold release device that deposits a deposit of the fiber material in the accumulation recessed portion as an absorber from the accumulation recess; and The amount of the fiber material to be supplied to the pipe per unit time is changed, and the absorber having the relatively high basis weight of the fiber material and the portion of the fiber material having a relatively low basis weight is produced in each of the absorbers, and the above absorption is performed. The manufacturing apparatus includes: a supply amount control unit that measures an uneven distribution state of the fiber material in the absorber or the deposit, and supplies the fiber material based on the measured uneven distribution state The supply of fiber material to the pipe varies.

<29>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the above <28>, wherein a ratio of a length of the pipe opening in the pipe opening portion opened on the drum side to a length of the cylindrical circumferential direction of the collecting recess is 2.0 or less.

<30>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the above-mentioned item, wherein the supply amount control unit manufactures an absorbent body in an uneven distribution state in accordance with an uneven distribution state of the fiber material registered in the memory unit in advance. In a way, the amount of fiber material supplied varies.

<31>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the measurement of the uneven distribution state of the fibrous material in the absorbent body or the deposit is performed by using a surface displacement measuring device and an image. Processing or electrostatic capacitance sensor.

<32>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above items, wherein The reel includes a cylindrical body and a peripheral member that is disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the tubular body to form an outer peripheral surface of the drum. The outer peripheral member has a porous plate on the outer peripheral portion thereof and overlaps The pattern forming plate fixed to the outer surface side of the porous plate, and the bottom surface of the accumulation concave portion is formed of the porous plate.

<33>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the above <32>, wherein the porous sheet-type air permeable panel transmits air flow generated by suction from the cylinder main body side to the outside of the rotary drum, and The absorbent body material conveyed by the air flow is not transmitted and held, and only air is transmitted.

<34>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above aspects, wherein the pipe extends from the fiber material supply unit to the rotating drum, and the fiber material supply unit includes a pulverizer as a defibrating machine. The raw material sheet of the fibrous material is introduced into the pulverizer by the raw material supply roller, and the fibrous material produced by defibration of the pulverizer is supplied into the piping.

<35>

The apparatus for producing an absorbent body according to the above aspect, wherein the fiber material supply unit includes a drive motor that feeds the raw material sheet into one of the pulverizers, and a drive motor that rotationally drives the supply roller.

<36>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to the above <35>, wherein the amount of rotation of the fiber material per unit time of the pipe is increased by increasing the number of revolutions of the drive motor, thereby reducing the number of revolutions of the drive motor The amount of fiber material supplied to the pipe per unit time is reduced.

<37>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above items <28> to <36>, The supply amount control unit includes a computer including a display unit and an input unit, an interface electrically connecting the computer to another device, and a specific program installed in the computer.

<38>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the items of the present invention, comprising: a computer that controls the rotation of the drive motor by outputting a control signal to the drive motor to control the raw material sheet The supply amount of the pulverizer controls the amount of the fiber material supplied into the pipe.

<39>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the apparatus for obtaining an absorbent body continuous body is provided on a lower surface of an absorbent body from which the covering sheet is released from the collecting recess. And a cutting device for cutting the continuous body of the absorbent body into an absorbent body used for the length of each absorbent article.

<40>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned, wherein the supply amount control unit causes a cycle in which the speed of the raw material sheet is supplied to the pulverizer is changed, and The above-mentioned collecting recesses are aligned by the period of the portion covered by the above-mentioned duct.

<41>

The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to any one of the above-mentioned items, wherein the tube and the fiber material supply unit are provided as another absorbent material. The water-absorbing polymer is supplied to the distribution tube of the pipe.

[Examples]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described in detail by way of examples. However, the scope of the invention is not limited by the embodiment.

[Example 1]

The absorber was fabricated using the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Use wood pulp sheet as raw material The material 31A was subjected to a change in the amount of supply as shown in Fig. 3 (a), and an absorbent body 3 having a higher basis weight and a lower portion of the fibrous material as shown in Fig. 4 was produced. In the manufacture of the absorber 3, a uniform suction force is generated throughout the entire area of the bottom surface of the collecting recess. Further, the supply of the water-absorptive polymer 32 is not performed.

[Examples 2 to 5, Comparative Examples 1 to 3]

The shape in the vicinity of the drum 2 of the duct 4 is changed to the "pipe shape" in Table 1, and the length of the longitudinal direction of the collecting recess is changed as shown in Table 1, and the embodiment is also described. 1 The absorbent body was produced in the same manner. The length of the longitudinal direction of the concave portion of the collecting portion coincides with the length of the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body to be produced. In Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the wood pulp sheet was introduced into the pulverizer at a fixed speed, and the supply amount to the pipe was not changed.

The pipes 1 to 4 shown in the column of "pipe shape" in Table 1 are as follows.

Shape 1: The shape shown in Figure 1, the length of the opening of the pipe is 940mm

Shape 2: The shape shown in Fig. 6(a), the length of the opening of the pipe is 520 mm

Shape 3: The shape shown in Figure 6(b), the length of the opening of the pipe is 346mm

Shape 4: The shape shown in Figure 6 (c), the length of the opening of the pipe is 173mm

Further, the production speeds of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were carried out at 10 m/min. Only Example 5 was carried out at a manufacturing speed of 10, 50, 100, 150 m/min, and the evaluation results of Table 1 represent the average of the four conditions of the speed. The manufacturing speed is the peripheral speed of the drum or the conveying speed of the conveyors 7, 7A.

(Evaluation)

With respect to each of the absorbers obtained in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3, the basis weight ratio of the portion where the basis weight of the fiber material is the highest and the basis weight of the fiber material is determined by the above method (hereinafter also referred to as The uneven distribution magnification is shown in Table 1.

The unevenness distribution ratio of the absorbent body obtained in Examples 1 to 5 which is an embodiment of the present invention is 1.5 or more, and the portion where the basis weight of the fibrous material is the highest and the basis weight of the fibrous material are the lowest. On the other hand, the unevenness distribution ratio of the absorber obtained in Comparative Examples 1 to 3 was 1.2 or less.

Further, in Examples 2 to 5, the basis weight of the fiber material was measured at intervals of 30 mm along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body corresponding to the conveyance direction at the time of production, and the results are shown in Fig. 7 . In Fig. 7, in order to correspond to Fig. 3(b), the absorbent body formed in order is regarded as a unit of one absorbent body, and the absorbent body formed in the longitudinal direction is regarded as a divided portion of the rear end of the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body and the front end of the next absorbent body. The divided portions are adjacently continuous, and the results for the plurality of absorbers are expressed as continuous measurement results. The measurement was carried out by measuring the amount corresponding to 3 to 4 sheets when the length of each of the absorbers was 333 mm. The length of the last divided portion on the rear side in the transport direction (the portion of the absorber 3 corresponding to the portion where the portion 3F is added to the portion 3G shown in Fig. 5) is set to 33 mm. The range indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7 is the range corresponding to one absorber.

Further, in order to evaluate the flatness of the basis weight change, the basis weight change rate at intervals of 30 mm was obtained, and the frequency distribution was shown in FIG. The basis weight change rate is obtained by using the basis weight difference between adjacent divided portions and the average basis weight in units of one absorber. Taking FIG. 5 as an example, the difference is sequentially obtained by the difference between 3A and 3B and the difference between 3B and 3C, and the value divided by the average basis weight is set as the basis weight change rate. When the basis weight difference becomes a negative value, the absolute value is set as the basis weight change rate. When the error in the measurement is excluded, the basis weight change rate is 35%/30 mm or less.

When the rate of change of the basis weight of the fiber material is investigated at intervals of 30 mm along the longitudinal direction of the absorber, when the maximum basis weight change rate is 35%/30 mm or less, the absorber is set in the longitudinal direction (one direction), The basis weight of the fiber material changes gently." Furthermore, the numerical value of the horizontal axis of the graph shown in FIG. 8 means that the range in which the numerical value is described is greater than the numerical value. The value of five percent is below the range of this value. For example, the numerical value shown on the horizontal axis of the graph of Example 5 is 35, which means that the basis weight change rate exceeds 30% and is 35% or less, and the basis weight change rate is a part of the range measured. There is one part in the interval.

[Examples 6, 7]

In the production of the absorbent body, an absorbent body was produced in the same manner as in Example 3 or 4 except that the water-absorbent polymer 32 was continuously supplied from the dispersion tube 55.

(Evaluation 1)

For each of the absorbent bodies obtained in Examples 6 and 7, the basis weight of the polymer which is the basis weight of the polymer having the highest basis weight of the fibrous material and the basis weight of the polymer having the lowest basis weight of the fibrous material is determined. The ratio (hereinafter also referred to as the second uneven distribution ratio of the polymer) is shown in Table 2.

According to the results shown in Table 2, according to the method of the present invention, an absorbent body in which the water-absorbent polymer is unevenly distributed can be obtained even if the device for changing the amount of supply is not provided in the supply device of the water-absorbent polymer 32.

(Evaluation 2)

Further, with respect to each of the absorbent bodies obtained in Examples 6 and 7, the basis weight of the fibrous material and the water-absorptive polymer was measured at intervals of 30 mm along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body corresponding to the direction of conveyance at the time of production. The results are shown in Fig. 9. The basis weight change rate of the fiber material and the water-absorbing polymer is measured by the same method as the method for measuring the basis weight change rate of the fiber material, In Fig. 10, the basis weight change rate and the frequency thereof are shown for the fiber material and the water-absorptive polymer, respectively.

The basis weight of the fibrous material and the water-absorbent polymer divided into each of the 30 mm intervals was measured as follows.

First, the fiber material and the water-absorptive polymer were not distinguished, and the total basis weight of the fiber material and the water-absorbent polymer was determined. Thereafter, a shading image of the water-absorbing polymer was obtained by a soft X-ray apparatus (SOFTT Corporation EMT-J). The basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer was determined from the calibration curve of the degree of gradation of the shaded image and the basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer additionally measured. The basis weight of the fibrous material was determined by subtracting the basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer from the total basis weight of the fibrous material and the water-absorbing polymer.

From the results shown in Fig. 9, it was found that in Examples 6 and 7, the phase of the uneven distribution of the fibrous material and the water-absorbing polymer was identical. In other words, in the fiber material and the water-absorptive polymer, the horizontal axis represents the position in the longitudinal direction of the absorber, and the top of the curve in which the vertical axis is the basis weight substantially coincides with the position of the valley portion. In addition, the phase difference between the two is 1/4 cycle or less with respect to the length of the absorber (the length b in the circumferential direction of the collecting recess of Table 2). Further, the basis weight change rates were 50%/30 mm or less.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, in both Examples 6 and 7, the basis weight of the fibrous material and the basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer are respectively in the range corresponding to one absorbent body having a length of 333 mm. The length of the absorbent body changes.

Further, with respect to Example 6, in the range corresponding to one absorbent body, the portion having the highest basis weight of the fibrous material is a portion having a distance of 0 mm from the reference position of 450 mm to 480 mm, and the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer is The distance from the reference position 0 is 390 to 420 mm, and the difference in position (absolute value) is 460 from 480 to 60, which is 1/4 or less of the length of the absorber 333 mm. Further, in the seventh embodiment, in the range corresponding to one absorbent body, the portion having the highest basis weight of the fiber material is a portion having a distance of 0 mm from the reference position of 480 to 510 mm, and the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer is 0mm from the reference position The distance is 420~450mm, and the difference in position (absolute value) is reduced from 510 to 450, which is 60 or less, which is 1/4 or less of the length of the absorber.

When the difference (absolute value) between the portion where the basis weight of the fibrous material is the highest and the portion where the basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer is the highest is 1/4 or less of the length of the absorbent body, In the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, the portion of the fibrous material having the highest basis weight is identical to the portion having the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer. With respect to the absorbent body produced by the present invention and the absorbent body of the present invention, it is preferred that when the absorbent body is sequentially divided at intervals of 30 mm from one end in the longitudinal direction, the basis weight of the fibrous material is the highest and the base of the water-absorbing polymer. The highest part is the same part, or an adjacent part, or two parts sandwiching one or two parts therebetween, and thus preferably the same part, or an adjacent part, or a clip therebetween Take two parts of a part.

Further, in the absorbent body produced by the present invention and the absorbent body of the present invention, for each of the fibrous material and the water-absorbing polymer, the basis weight (highest basis weight) and the lowest basis weight of the portion having the highest basis weight are calculated. When the basis weight ratio (highest basis weight/lowest basis weight) of the basis weight (lowest basis weight), that is, the uneven distribution magnification ratio, the uneven distribution ratio of the fibrous material to the water-absorbing polymer is preferable in terms of self-water absorption performance. Different from the viewpoint of the strength of the absorber, it is further preferred that the uneven distribution ratio of the fibrous material is higher than the uneven distribution ratio of the water-absorbing polymer.

[Example 11]

The absorber was fabricated using the apparatus shown in FIG. As the raw material sheet 31A, a wood pulp sheet is used, and the amount of supply to the pulverizer 51 is changed as shown in Fig. 12(a), and a portion having a higher basis weight and a lower portion of the fibrous material is produced. Absorber 3 of the form shown in 4. In the manufacture of the absorber 3, a uniform suction force is generated throughout the entire area of the bottom surface of the collecting recess. Further, the supply of the water-absorptive polymer 32 is not performed. Further, in the production, the unevenness distribution state of the fiber material of the absorber 3 is monitored using a surface displacement measuring device, and as a result, the uneven distribution state of the fiber material is always stable.

[Examples 12 to 15, Comparative Examples 11 to 13]

The shape in the vicinity of the drum 2 of the duct 4 is changed to the "pipe shape" in Table 3, and the length of the longitudinal direction of the collecting recess is changed as shown in Table 3, and In Example 11, an absorber was produced in the same manner. The length of the longitudinal direction of the concave portion of the collecting portion coincides with the length of the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body to be produced. In Comparative Examples 11 to 13, the pulverizer 51 was supplied with the wood pulp sheet at a constant fixed speed. "Yes" in the column of "Pulp supply amount control" in Table 3 means that the supply amount of the wood pulp sheet is periodically changed.

The pipes 1 to 4 shown in the column of "pipe shape" in Table 3 are as follows.

Shape 1: The shape shown in Figure 11, the length of the opening of the pipe is 940mm

Shape 2: The shape shown in Fig. 6(a), the length of the opening of the pipe is 520 mm

Shape 3: The shape shown in Figure 6(b), the length of the opening of the pipe is 346mm

Shape 4: The shape shown in Figure 6 (c), the length of the opening of the pipe is 173mm

[Reference Example 11~14]

The shape in the vicinity of the drum 2 of the duct 4 is changed to the "pipe shape" in Table 4, and the length of the longitudinal direction of the collecting recess is changed as shown in Table 4, and the embodiment is also described. 11 The absorbent body was produced in the same manner. In Reference Examples 11 to 14, although the amount of supply of the pulp was controlled, the ratio of the length a of the pipe opening in the pipe opening portion opened on the drum side to the length b of the cylinder circumferential direction of the collecting recess portion exceeded 3.0.

(Evaluation)

With respect to each of the absorbers obtained in Examples 11 to 15, Comparative Examples 11 to 13, and Reference Examples 11 to 14, the basis weight of the portion where the basis weight of the fiber material is the highest and the basis weight of the fiber material was the lowest by the above method. The ratio (hereinafter also referred to as uneven distribution magnification) is shown in Tables 3 and 4.

The unevenness distribution ratio of the absorbent body obtained in Examples 11 to 15 of the embodiment of the present invention was 1.5 or more, and the portion where the basis weight of the fibrous material was the highest and the basis weight of the fibrous material were the lowest. On the other hand, the unevenness distribution ratio of the absorber obtained in Comparative Examples 11 to 13 was 1.2 or less, and the basis weight was substantially fixed.

[Industry use area]

According to the method for producing an absorbent body of the present invention, it is possible to easily produce a portion having a relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material and a relatively low basis weight of the fibrous material by varying the supply amount per unit time of the fibrous material. The absorber.

According to the apparatus for producing an absorbent body of the present invention, it is possible to manufacture an absorbent body in which a desired amount of the absorbent body material is unevenly distributed, and the absorbent body can be stably produced continuously.

1‧‧‧Manufacturer of absorbent body

2‧‧‧ reel

2f‧‧‧ outer perimeter

3‧‧‧ absorber

4‧‧‧ Pipes

5‧‧‧Fiber Material Supply Department

6‧‧‧Blowing device for demoulding

7‧‧‧Vacuum conveyor

7A‧‧‧belt conveyor

8‧‧‧Supply Quantity Control Department

9‧‧‧cutting device

20‧‧‧tube body

20p‧‧‧ divider

21‧‧‧ peripheral components

22‧‧‧Concave recess

24‧‧‧Press belt

25‧‧‧roll

26‧‧‧ Roll

30‧‧‧Acceptor

30A‧‧‧Absorber continuum

31‧‧‧Fiber material

31A‧‧‧Material sheet

32‧‧‧Water-absorbing polymer

35‧‧‧ Covered sheets

36‧‧‧covered sheets

51‧‧‧Crusher

52‧‧‧Supply roller

53‧‧‧Drive motor

55‧‧‧Distribution tube

73‧‧‧Aerial belt

74‧‧‧vacuum box

83‧‧‧Rotary encoder

91‧‧‧Cutter Roll

92‧‧‧cutting knife

93‧‧‧Anvil Roll

222‧‧‧Center shaft

A‧‧‧ space

B‧‧‧ Space

C‧‧‧ Space

D‧‧‧ Space

R‧‧‧Rotation direction

Claims (38)

A method for producing an absorbent body in which a fiber material is supplied in a scattering state in a drum in which a collecting concave portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface, and the fibrous material is deposited in the collecting concave portion by suction to obtain a specific shape of the absorbent body. And by periodically changing the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material in accordance with the rotational movement period of the concave portion for gathering, obtaining a portion having a relatively high basis weight of the fibrous material and a relatively low basis weight of the fibrous material Part of the absorber. The method of producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the aggregating concave portion generates a uniform suction force on the entire bottom surface. The method of producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the raw material sheet of the fibrous material is supplied to a defibrating machine to produce a fibrous material supplied to the rotating drum in a scattered state, and the raw material sheet is made relative to the defibrating machine The supply amount per unit time is varied, whereby the supply amount per unit time of the fiber material supplied to the above-described drum in a scattering state is periodically changed. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the speed of the raw material sheet for supplying the fiber material to the defibrating machine is periodically changed by periodically changing the rotational speed of the raw material supply supply roller, and the supply is periodically supplied. The amount of supply per unit time of the fiber material into the pipe periodically changes. A method of producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the step of supplying a relatively small amount of the fibrous material to the pipe alternately and the step of supplying a relatively large amount of the fibrous material to the pipe are alternately performed by the supply amount control portion to the pipe The quality of the supplied fiber material is periodically changed, and the amount of the fiber is continuously supplied to the fiber material so that the mass of the fiber material reaching the outer peripheral surface of the drum periodically changes. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the step of alternately repeating the step of supplying the fiber material to the pipe and the step of supplying the fiber material to the pipe are alternately repeated. The quality of the fiber material that reaches the outer surface of the drum periodically changes. A method of manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 4, wherein a servo motor is used as the drive motor of the supply roller. The manufacturing method of the absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a high basis weight portion of the fibrous material having a relatively high basis weight is formed on one end side corresponding to the front end in the rotation direction of the concave portion for collecting, after the rotation direction of the concave portion for collecting The other end side of the end corresponds to a low basis weight where the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively low. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein when the absorbent body is transported by the vacuum conveyor or the belt conveyor as the conveying means, the longitudinal direction is along the conveying direction, and one end of the high basis weight is oriented toward the conveying direction. The downstream side. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a length of the tubular opening portion of the duct opening portion to a length of the cylindrical circumferential direction of the collecting recess portion exceeds 0 and is 2.0 or less. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the fibrous material having a relatively high basis weight and a relatively low basis weight of the fibrous material is formed in a wave shape on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a basis weight of a portion of the absorbent member having a highest basis weight to a basis weight of a portion of the fibrous material having a basis weight is 1.5 or more and 30 or less. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the basis weight of the portion of the absorbent body where the basis weight of the fibrous material is the highest is 100 g/m ² or more and 3000 g/m ² or less. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the whole or a part of the fibrous material is a pulp fiber, and a ratio of the pulp fibers in the fibrous material is 50% by mass or more and 100% by mass or less. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the water-absorbing polymer is supplied to the air stream for transporting the fibrous material to obtain an absorbent body having a water-absorptive polymer. The method for producing an absorbent according to claim 1, wherein in the air flow for transporting the fibrous material, the supply amount per unit time is fixed and the water-absorbing polymer is supplied, and the basis weight of the fibrous material is relatively high. An absorbent body having a portion of the fibrous material having a relatively lower basis weight and having more water-absorbent polymer is used as the above-mentioned absorbent body. The method of producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the supply amount of the fiber material to the pipe is periodically changed by providing a baffle immediately after the pulverizer and performing an opening and closing operation. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein a first suction region having a high opening area ratio and a second suction region having an opening area ratio lower than a first suction region are provided on a bottom surface of the accumulation concave portion. The fibrous material is deposited in the two suction regions. The method of producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent system is used as an absorbent body for an absorbent article, and the absorbent article is for use in an article for absorbing liquid discharged from a human body. The method of producing an absorbent body according to claim 19, wherein the absorbent article is any one of a disposable diaper, a menstrual sanitary napkin, an incontinence pad, and a panty liner. The method for producing an absorbent body according to claim 1, wherein the absorbent system is used as an absorbent body for a disposable diaper, such that the high basis weight portion becomes the ventral side (front side) and the low basis weight portion becomes the back side (rear side). It is used by assembling an absorbent article. An absorbent body comprising a fibrous material and a water-absorbing polymer, wherein a basis weight of the fibrous material and a basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer are respectively changed in a longitudinal direction of the absorbent body, and a length direction of the absorbent body The portion of the fiber material having the highest basis weight is the same as the portion having the highest basis weight of the water-absorbing polymer, and the basis weight ratio of the portion having the highest basis weight and the portion having the lowest basis weight, that is, the uneven distribution ratio is the same as the fiber material and The above water-absorbing polymers are different. The absorbent according to claim 22, wherein said uneven distribution magnification of said fibrous material is higher than said uneven distribution magnification of said water-absorbing polymer. The absorbent body of claim 22 or 23, wherein the basis weight of the fibrous material changes gently in the longitudinal direction of the absorbent body. An apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body, comprising: a rotary drum having a plurality of concave portions for collecting at a predetermined interval on an outer circumferential surface; and a duct for supplying a fibrous material as an absorbent material in a scattered state toward an outer peripheral surface of the rotary cylinder; a fiber material supply unit that supplies a fiber material to the inside of the pipe; and a mold release device that deposits a deposit of the fiber material in the accumulation recessed portion as an absorber from the accumulation recess; and The amount of the fiber material to be supplied to the pipe per unit time is changed, and the absorber having the relatively high basis weight of the fiber material and the portion of the fiber material having a relatively low basis weight is produced in each of the absorbers, and the above absorption is performed. The manufacturing apparatus of the body includes: a supply amount control unit that measures an uneven distribution state of the fiber material in the absorber or the deposit, and based on the measured uneven distribution state, the fiber material supply unit is connected to the pipe The amount of fiber material supplied varies. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, wherein a ratio of a length of the tubular opening portion of the duct opening portion opened on the drum side to a length of the cylinder circumferential direction of the collecting recess portion is 2.0 or less. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, wherein the supply amount control unit supplies the fiber material in such a manner as to manufacture an absorbent body that conforms to an uneven distribution state of the uneven distribution state of the fiber material registered in the memory unit in advance. The amount changes. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, wherein the measurement of the uneven distribution state of the fibrous material in the absorbent body or the deposit is performed using a surface displacement measuring device, an image processing or an electrostatic capacitance sensor. The manufacturing apparatus of the absorbent body of claim 25, wherein the drum system comprises a cylindrical shape The cylinder main body and the outer peripheral portion of the cylinder main body are stacked to form an outer peripheral member of the outer peripheral surface of the drum, and the outer peripheral member has a porous plate at an outer peripheral portion thereof and is superposed and fixed on the outer surface of the porous plate. The side pattern forms a plate, and the bottom surface of the accumulation recess is formed of the porous plate. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 29, wherein the porous sheet air permeable sheet transmits air flow generated by suction from the cylinder main body side to the outside of the rotary drum without being multiplied The absorbent material conveyed by the air flow is transmitted and held, and only air is transmitted. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, wherein the duct extends from the fiber material supply unit to the drum, and the fiber material supply unit includes a pulverizer as a defibrating machine, and the raw material sheet of the fiber material is made of a raw material The supply roller is introduced into the pulverizer, and the fiber material generated by defibration of the pulverizer is supplied into the pipe. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 31, wherein the fiber material supply unit includes a drive motor that feeds the raw material sheet into one of the pulverizers and the supply roller, and drives the supply roller to rotate. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 32, wherein the amount of supply of the fiber material to the pipe per unit time is increased by increasing the number of revolutions of the drive motor, thereby reducing the number of revolutions of the drive motor. The amount of fiber material supplied to the pipe per unit time is reduced. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, wherein the supply amount control unit includes a computer including a display unit and an input unit, an interface electrically connecting the computer to another device, and a specific program attached to the computer. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 31, comprising: a computer that controls the supply of the raw material sheet to the pulverizer by controlling a rotation of the drive motor by outputting a control signal to the drive motor, thereby controlling the fiber Material up The amount of supply in the pipeline. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, comprising: a mechanism for obtaining a continuous body of the absorbent body by covering the upper surface of the upper surface of the absorbent body from which the covering sheet is released from the concave portion for collecting, and cutting the continuous body of the absorbent body into A cutting device for an absorbent body of the length of each absorbent article. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 31, wherein the supply amount control unit causes a period in which the speed of the raw material sheet is supplied to the pulverizer to change, and a portion in which the accumulation recessed portion passes through the duct The cycle is consistent. The apparatus for manufacturing an absorbent body according to claim 25, wherein a scatter tube for supplying a water-absorbent polymer as another absorbent material to the pipe is provided between the drum and the fiber material supply portion in the duct. .